"Good-bye," she said. "But wild birds are not so easily tamed." Then she waved her hand over her head, and went on her way singing. THE END. * * * * * * * * *AT THE GREEN DRAGON.* *BY BEATRICE HARRADEN.* *CHAPTER I.* *HIERONYMUS COMES.* It was a pouring September evening when a stranger knocked at the door of the Crown Inn. Old Mrs. Howells saw that he carried a portmanteau in his hand. "If it’s a bedroom you want," she said, "I can’t be bothered with you. What with brewing the beer and cleaning the brass, I’ve more than I can manage. I’m that tired!" "And so am I," said the stranger pathetically. "Go over the way to the Green Dragon," suggested Mrs. Howells. "Mrs. Benbow may be able to put you up. But what with the brewing and the cleaning, I can’t do with you." The stranger stepped across the road to the Green Dragon. He tapped at the door, and a cheery little woman made her appearance. She was carrying what they call in Shropshire a devil of hot beer. It smelt good. "Good-evening, ma’am," said the stranger. "Can you house me for the night? The hostess of the Crown Inn has turned me away. But you surely will not do the same? You observe what a bad cold I have." Mrs. Benbow glanced sharply at the stranger. She had not kept the Green Dragon for ten years without learning to judge somewhat of character; and to-night she was particularly on her guard, for her husband had gone to stay for two days with some relatives in Shrewsbury, so that Mrs. Benbow and old John of the wooden leg, called _Dot and carry one_, were left as sole guardians of the little wayside public house. "It is not very convenient for me to take you in," she said. "And it would not be very convenient for me to be shut out," he replied. "Besides which, I have had a whiff of that hot beer." At that moment a voice from the kitchen cried impatiently. "Here, missus! where be that beer of your’n. I be feeling quite faint-like!" "As though he could call out like that if he was faint!" laughed Mrs. Benbow, running off into the kitchen. When she returned she found the stranger seated at the foot of the staircase. "And what do you propose to do for me?" he asked patiently. There was no mistaking the genial manner. Mrs. Benbow was conquered. "I propose to fry some eggs and bacon for your supper," she said cheerily. "And then I propose to make your bedroom ready." "Sensible woman!" he said, as he followed her into the parlor, where a fire was burning brightly. He threw himself into the easychair, and immediately experienced that sensation of repose and thankfulness which comes over us when we have found a haven. There he rested, content with himself and his surroundings. The fire lit up his face, and showed him to be a man of about forty years.